Re: LYNX-DEV one-screen lynx -help page proposal

[Klaus Weide]

On Wed, 5 Mar 1997, root wrote:

> Scott McGee (Personal) wrote:
> > 
> > Also, during the last part of the 2-6FM era, Fote said he prefered leaving
> > the copyright notice vague as shown above. He was primary author and as such
> > I respected his preference, as did others. Since he is NOT the primary
> > author of the current code Klaus and others are working on, I respectfully
> > submit that
> > 
> > Lynx Version 2.7-dev
> > Copyright (c) 1979, Lynx Developers Group
> > Copyrighted under the terms of the GNU General Public License
> > <URL:http://lynx.browser.org/>
> > 
> > would be better. Anyone agree? (Fote, do you still wish to speak against 
> > this
> > idea?)
> > 
> > Scott
> > 
> 
> I would agree, except it should probably be:
> 
> Lynx Version LYNX_VERSION
> Copyright (c) 1979, Lynx Developers Group
> Copyrighted under the terms of the GNU General Public License
> <URL:http://lynx.browser.org/>

This looks like wishful thinking:  There isn't any "Lynx Developers Group"
un-diffuse enough to hold a copyright.

The copyrights to individual contributions belong to individual
contributors,  who chose to allow use and distribution under the terms of
the GPL.

I don't think anything can be "copyrighted under the terms of the GNU GPL".
Somebody has a copyright to something or not under the terms of applicable
law.  A prgram can be _distributed_ "under the terms of the GNU GPL" - At
least that is the usage in the GNU GPL document (file about_lynx/COPYING).

That is my understanding, I Am Not A Lawyer.

I suggest asking Richard Stallman (or the FSF) for advice what such a
notice should say, if there has to be one at all.

Also compare what GNU programs do.  For example:

$ make --version
GNU Make version 3.75, by Richard Stallman and Roland McGrath.
Copyright (C) 1988, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96
        Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.
There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Report bugs to <address@hidden>.
 

      Klaus

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